Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Hypothesis: Florida Medicaid has been unstable, damaging the process of kids with autism all over the state. These business owners also suffer trying to pay their employees because Medicaid won’t cover their expenses anymore. 

The who: Florida Medicaid, business owners, and autistic kids. 

The what: Unable to support businesses and have a stable Medicaid program.

The why: Federal interventions cause delays in education and behavior for kids with autism. 

Testing the who: Business owners and kids with autism have the need because they are the ones being impacted by this problem. 

Testing the what: This problem only affected a small crowd compared to a wide audience. The need for stabilization of Medicaid is very needed. 

Testing the why: This happens because of reforms done to the Medicaid system that are constantly changing. 

Interview #1: 

·     Why do you believe Medicaid needs to be constant?

I believe that Medicaid need to remain the same instead of changing and reforming things because my child has autism and it has really impacted his progress. 

·     Who do you believe is impacted by this?

I think that definitely the kids and parents because we make our schedules around these therapies that are paid for. 

From this interview, I concluded that this mother is suffering first hand from this situation and this is really impacting the development for children. Also, the main group of people who are impacted would be therapists, kids with autism, and business owners. 

Interview #2: 

·     Why do you believe that Medicaid is always being changed? 

I think that they find many flaws in the system and need to constantly change it. 

·     Do you believe that this applies to a vast majority?

No, I don’t believe that this does not apply to most people because not a majority of the people need behavior or speech therapy.

From this interview, I concluded that there is a reason behind the reason for Medicaid reforms. I also learned that this does not apply to the majority of people. 

Interview #3: 

·     Why do you believe business owners are going out of businesses?

The reason business owners are going out of businesses is because since Medicaid aren’t able to provide funding, then the owners of the therapy places have to pay their own people to continue working which ultimately lead them to going out of business. 

From this interview, I concluded that the reason why business owners were so affected was due to Medicaid funding that they didn’t receive anymore. 

Interview #4: 

·     How do you believe this problem can be fixed? 

I think with the right protests the government can be able to see that these people are suffering due to all the changes going on. 

·     Do hospitals suffer from this issue?

I don’t believe that hospitals have this issue because their type of therapies are different and hospitals are priority #1. 

I learned from this interview that businesses suffer directly instead of hospitals. I also learned that protests can help aid to move the government to stop changing the Medicaid system so much. 

Interview #5: 

·     Is there another health care provider that these businesses can work with instead?

I believe so. There are many health care providers but that requires the business to start all over and have to get new patients. 

I learned from this interview that businesses can partner up with other healthcare providers but will have to completely start over with new patients. This also needs that the patients that they had previously would have to find other businesses to be treated at.